PROJECT LEAD FOR LEGAL & ADVOCACY EXTRACTIVES INDUSTRY PROJECT

PROJECT LEAD FOR LEGAL & ADVOCACY EXTRACTIVES INDUSTRY PROJECT  

(FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT) 

Corruption Watch (CW) is a South African non-profit organisation with a ten-year track record and an  accredited chapter of Transparency International. CW’s primary objective is to combat corruption which it does through various strategic initiatives. 

Corruption Watch seeks to fill the position of a Project Lead for Legal & Advocacy Extractives Industry Project  who will oversee the planning, management and execution of the REAP project.

OBJECTIVES:  

The aim of the project is to curb inequalities in Africa by addressing its root causes. It aims to directly support groups who have been ‘left behind’ and who intersect in terms of income, wealth, and social inequalities. The beneficiaries of the project are land right holders and mining-affected communities, with a specific focus on women and youth. The CW interventions are – amongst other things - focused on the creation of platforms for land right holders in mining-affected areas to facilitate active participation in decision-making processes that affected their land, property, environment, and livelihoods. 

CW activities fall under three broad work streams namely, transparency and accountability, strategic policy interventions, capacity building and knowledge management with research focused activities built into each workstream. The remaining activities of the project have the following objectives:  

1. To increase public scrutiny of governmental policies related to mining licenses and tax incentives in South Africa and in Kenya respectively;  
2. To enhance critical knowledge and public awareness about causes and impacts of economic inequalities on targeted issues with special attention to women and traditional communities in South Africa. 

Remaining activities include, but are not limited to: 

1. Recruiting an additional consultant to continue research  into the exercise of participation rights in mining-affected communities in South Africa vis-a-vis benefit sharing agreements for land use. 
2. Forming strategic partnerships with key state oversight bodies to ensure accountability processes/mechanisms monitor the awarding of mining permits in traditional areas to the benefit of women and traditional communities. 
3. Conducting advocacy with the Working Group on Extractive Industries within the African Union on Human and People’s Rights to ensure states provide written reports and account and address human rights violations experienced through the value chain on mining. 
4. Advocacy of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights on mining policy processes concerning traditional land in mining areas.
5. Prepare submissions to policy formulation processes and parliamentary engagements on the awarding of mining licenses in traditional areas, and the ways in which these exacerbate economic inequality.
6. Development of governance policy frameworks of public engagement and participation in mining approvals processes;
7. Conducting advocacy aimed at the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on international best practice relating to community engagement, public participation and consent, such as encouraging FPIC standardisation. 
8. Conducting advocacy dialogues with mining companies and the Minerals Council in South Africa to ensure adequate consideration of and provision for the needs of mining-affected communities. 
9. Leading an advocacy campaign to foster greater inclusion of community voices in decision making processes for the approval of mining activities on their land among traditional leaders/authorities in South Africa. 
10. The development of public education materials and guidance tools to better diagnose and fight against inequalities within traditional communities stemming from exclusionary land policies related to the awarding of mining licenses.

Areas of Responsibilities: 

Reporting to the Head of Legal and Investigation, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following responsibilities: 

• Acquaint themselves with the intricacies and requirements of the project. 
• Project plan for the remainder of the project period to ensure achievement of project goals, remaining deliverables, and contractual obligations.
• Coordinate and oversee execution of REAP project obligations. 
• Delegate specific deliverable work to team members based on skill set, capacity and attending to the execution of all deliverables. 
• Engage in advocacy work with stakeholders in the private and public sector as well as standard setting bodies, as required. 
• Liaising, coordinating, and engaging with internal and external stakeholders   on a regular basis.  
• Setting, managing, and controlling the project budget for the remaining period of contract with the Head of Finance and Head of Legal & Investigation. 
• Ensuring timeous and quality reporting to the donor on a quarterly and annual basis. 
• Planning, facilitating and travelling for community-focused consultations  as and when required.
• Overseeing the arrangement of and coordination of logistics (including but not limited to logistics in respect of community engagements, travel arrangements, liaising with CSO and community partners, arranging learning materials and providing updates on the outcomes of engagements). 
• Undertaking procurement processes in respect of the appointment of external service providers. 
• Regular attendance and contributions to Conference/seminar/dialogue attendances. 
• Attendance of   TI-Kenya and TI-S meetings biweekly and monthly. 
• Working with the CW communications team on project-specific media work. 
• Liaising with investigators in respect of investigatory work. 
• Drafting and quality controlling research pieces including but not limited to, project-related publications, policy submissions, webinars, interviews and op-eds. 
• Engaging internally on M&E processes including providing monthly updates on the project. 
• Attending to final project evaluation and wrap up at the end of the project which will include drafting of/liaising on the final donor report. 

Qualification and Experience 

• LLB or suitable degree with a minimum of five-years PQE.
• Experience working in and extensive knowledge of land and extractives rights.  
• Experience leading projects in a civil society organisation.
• Experience in conducting advocacy with key oversight bodies.
• Project management qualification an advantage. 

If you are interested in joining a dynamic team committed to exposing corruption, advancing human rights, and improving the environment for whistle-blowers, then this opportunity may be for you.  

Interested applicants should send the following:  

• A letter motivating your application for the position 
• A recently updated CV with three (3) contactable references to:  admin@corruptionwatch.org.za   

Closing date for applications is: Friday, 1 December 2023 after which, it will be rolling for consideration until we find a suitable candidate.

Corruption Watch reserves the right not to make an appointment. If you do not hear from us within 30 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. O nly shortlisted candidates will be contacted.